NFL: Adam Vinatieri deserved better from Patriots fans

It’s been a week, and the unconscionable way Patriot fans treated Adam Vinatieri remains unfathomable.

For those who missed it, Vinatieri was repeatedly booed during the Patriots’ win over the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday at Gillette Stadium. We’re not talking scattered jeering; we’re talking collective venting at a sure-fire future member of the Patriots Hall of Fame who is a strong candidate for admission to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

I get booing Johnny Damon when he returned to Fenway Park with the Yankees and Joe Thornton when he skated at the Garden with the Sharks. Same goes for the treatment that awaits Ray Allen when he returns to Boston as a member of the Heat on Jan. 27.

Don’t agree with it, but I understand why fans might have some harsh feelings toward those players. But Vinatieri? Really?

That kind of treatment — and this wasn’t the first time it happened — was inconsiderate, senseless and, most of all, embarrassing to the New England franchise and region.

Tom Brady, as always, was publicly diplomatic when asked to weigh in on the topic. But privately, you just know it burned him.

“Part of being a fan is you have the liberty to boo or cheer or do whatever you want,” Brady told WEEI. “I’m sure when he has his Hall of Fame induction here, there will be a lot of cheers for him. He was a great player for our team, certainly is still a great player for the Colts.

“He helped us win three Super Bowl championships. He’s one of the best kickers — if not the best kicker — to ever play the game. For him to do it as long as he’s done it, as consistent as he’s done it, is very impressive.”

Vinatieri, who’s now in his 17th season, played for the Patriots from 1996 to 2005 before landing in Indianapolis after Bill Belichick opted not to re-sign him. But somehow it was Vinatieri and not the Great Gray Hooded One who has been vilified for the parting of ways.

Vinatieri was a member of four AFC championship and three Super Bowl winning teams during his time in New England, twice being named All-Pro while earning spots on the Patriots’ 50th anniversary team and the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team.

His 45-yard field goal with less than a minute to play in the Snow Bowl is arguably the single most important play in franchise history and the greatest kick in league history. “Automatic Adam” then booted a 23-yarder in OT to lift the Patriots past the Oakland Raiders in that unforgettable game.

A few weeks later, Vinatieri booted a 48-yard field goal as time expired as the Patriots defeated the St. Louis Rams to win the first of their three Super Bowls. His 41-yarder with 4 seconds to play against the Carolina Panthers clinched the Patriots’ second league title two years later.

“We’ve seen him make a lot of those,” Belichick said of Vinatieri, who has won 24 games with kicks in the final minute of regulation or in overtime.

George Blanda, Lou Groza and Jan Stenerud are the only kickers enshrined in Canton. Stenerud is the only pure kicker; Groza played on the offensive line, while Blanda was also a quarterback.

Belichick, who has been continuously employed in the NFL since 1975, isn’t sure why that is, but let it be known Vinatieri has already done enough to at least merit serious consideration.

“He’s certainly one of the greatest kickers I’ve ever seen since I’ve been in the league — the longevity, the production, the performance in championships and big games,” Belichick said. “What more could he do? Go out there and play wide receiver and catch a bunch of passes? Is that what he needs to do? I don’t know. What more could he do?”

As for Vinatieri, he deflected any talk about the hostile greeting he received in Foxboro and soaked up the vote of confidence from Belichick.

“It’s a heck of an honor if he said that,” Vinatieri said. “I don’t think about that kind of stuff, I just try to keep on putting more chapters into the book of my career, and we’ll see where it all lays at the end of my career. We’ve had a good history, and I have huge respect for him, and I appreciate it.”

It’s too bad there are Patriot fans who aren’t equally respectful and appreciative.

Some quick hits and (hopefully) useful numbers with regard to this week’s games: The Bears have won five straight games against the Vikings overall and 10 of the past 11 meetings in Chicago. … Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer returns to Cincinnati for the first time since the Bengals traded him last season. Andy Dalton, the guy who replaced him, is 39 of 59 for 429 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions during the Bengals’ two-game winning streak. … The Steelers have won 22 of the past 24 meetings with the Browns, including 14-3 and 13-9 last season. … The Colts are 4-1 at home. The Bills are 2-4 on the road. … The Titans are 10-7 (.588) all-time at Jacksonville. The Jaguars are 0-5 at home, with the losses coming by 20, 17, 38, 17 and 17 points… The Broncos have won five straight, all by at least a touchdown. The Chiefs have lost seven straight, five by double digits. … The Falcons have won six of the past seven meetings with the Buccaneers. Five of the past six games in the series have been decided by six points or less. The Buccaneers are averaging 34.2 points over the last six games and 28.7 for the season. The Falcons are averaging 27 points for the season. … The Chargers and Ravens are meeting in San Diego for the second straight season. The Chargers won, 34-14, last year. … The Giants and Packers have met three times since 2010. The point totals: 62, 73, 57. … Teams on the bye: None. And how those coming off it have historically fared: Minnesota (17-6, .739), New York Giants (8-15, .348), Seattle (6-17, .261), Tennessee (13-10, .565).

Some random thoughts in no particular order:

•Brian Waters — remember him? — could still play for the Patriots this season. He has until Friday to make a decision. Considering the health of Logan Mankins, you’d think the Patriots would be recruiting him hard.

•Stephen Gostkowski’s signature moment as a Patriot? It has to be standing on the sideline late in Super Bowl XLII as Belichick opted to go for it on fourth-and-13 rather than attempt a 48-yard field goal.

•The Patriots are on pace to score 592 points. That would top the league-record 589 they put up in 2007. Suffice to say, the offense has worked out its early-season issues.

•The Shrewsbury High football team’s reward for earning the top seed in the Central Mass. Division 1 playoffs is a first-round game against Leominster at Doyle Field. Find it hard to believe that situation couldn’t have been avoided.

•It was going to be puckhead heaven as the Bruins hosted the Rangers on Friday and the Penguins on Saturday. Thank you, Mr. Bettman, for turning the NHL into the No Hockey League.

Material used in this report was collected from personal interviews, wire services, websites, and league and team sources. Rich Garven can be reached by email at rich.garven@verizon.net or rgarven@telegram.com.

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